Plasticized polyvinyl chloride compositions with polymers of sulfur and an unsaturated compound



United States Patent PLASTICIZED POLYVINYL CHLORIDE COMPOSI- TIONS WITH POLYMERS 0F SULFUR AND AN UNSATURATED COMPOUND Chauncey C. De Pugh, Fairless Hills, Pa., and Edward G. Millen, Princeton, N.J., assignors to Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Bristol, Pa., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,191

16 Claims. (Cl. 260--30.8)

This invention relates to plasticized compositions of homopolymers and copolymers of chloride extended with activated fillers.

The object of the present invention to provide a novel class of activated filler materials which may be used to either replace a substantial portion of the plasticizer used in preparing plasticized polyvinyl chloride compositions or to extend such compositions.

Polyvinyl chloride is commonly plasticized with about to 75 parts by weight of plasticizer for 100 parts by weight of polymer to increase its flexibility and elastic I properties and provide compositions suitable for calendering into thin sheets or films. Among the plasticizers generally used are high boiling liquid esters such as tricresyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, di(tridecyl) phthalate, dioctyl phthal'ate, acetyl styrene, methacrolein, methylvinyl ketone, methyl isopropenyl ketone, vinyl phenyl ketone, tetrabutyl succinate, dipropylene glycol benzoate, tri(2-ethy1 hexyl) phosphate, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, alkylaryl phosphates and butyl carbitol adipate.

In addition to plasticizers, stabilizing agents including organo tin compounds such as tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin- S,S'-bis(3,5,5-t1imethyl hexyl mercapto acetate) or a mixture of barium and cadmium stearates are usually incorporated with the polymeric ingredients to prevent or inhibit deterioration of the polyvinyl chloride. About 0.5 to 3 parts by weight of these stabilizers are normally used per 100 parts by weight of the polymer.

Small amounts of other additives such as pigments, fillers, colors, lubricants, or mold release agents, e.g., white mineral oil or butyl stearate, may be included in the compositions, but such additives are not required nor may very much of them be used without deleteriously afiecting the final product.

Plasticizers are among the most expensive components of these plasticized polyvinyl chloride. compositions'and the amount needed of these materials to impart the desired properties to the finished product often prices the product out of the competitive market. Many attempts have been made to decrease the cost of plasticized polyvinyl chloride compositions by replacing some of the plasticizer with less expensive materials, such as fillers. Although a great deal of time and eifort have been expended in this direction by those in the art, no one, to date, has been able to provide an inexpensive filler material which could be used to replace a substantial portion of the plasticizer needed to attain the desired results without, at the same time, unduly sacrificing the performance characteristics of the final product.

It has now been unexpectedly discovered according to the present invention that activated fillers comprising sulfur and the reaction products of sulfur and ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds having sulfur reactive double bonds can readily be incorporated into plasticized polyvinyl chloride compositions in place of a substantial portion of the plasticizers normally used therein to impart additional elongation properties to the product while at the same time retaining the stress-strain properties desired therein. Where sulfur is used as the activated filler itself or to form the reaction product activated fillers, it may be used in any of the commercially available elementary forms.

3,251,797 Patented May 17, 1966 According to the present invention, a substantial portion of the plasticizer may be replaced entirely by these activated fillers or the normal stock formulation may be substantially extended therewith. Up to about 25 parts by Weight of sulfur or up to about parts by Weight of the reaction product activated fillers may 'be used per 100 parts by weight of the vinyl chloride polymer without imparting any deleterious effect thereto. T-herefiore, it is preferable to use from about 5 to about 25 parts by weight of sulfur or from about 5 up to about 45 parts by weight of the reaction product activated fillers per 100 parts by weight of the vinyl chloride polymer.

In general, the reaction product activated fillers of the present invention can be prepared by [reacting a mixture of sulfur and an ethylenically unsaturated organic compound having at least one reactive double bond such as but not limited to, butadiene, ethyl hexyl acry-late, styrene, vinyl toluene, divinyl benzene, a-methyl styrene, isobutylene, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, methyl metha'crylate, ethylene, propylene, butene-l, butene-2, isopentene, diisobutylene, t-riisobutylene, hexene-l, heptene-3, octene-l, dodenene 8, cetene 1, hexyl-2-decene-1, heptadecene-7, pentatriacontene-l7, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, pinene, camphene, alloocimene, mycrene, squalene, dihydronapihthalene, indene, aceuaphthalene, allene, isoprene, chloroprene, cyclopentadiene, vinyl cyclopentadiene, cyclohex- Y adiene, vinyl cyolohexene, divinyl acetylene, trivinyl benzone, hexatriene, diallyl dirnethallyl, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7- octadiene, 1,8-nonadiene, 1,4-heptadiene, triolefin monovinyl acetylene, ethylyacryl'ate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, methyl vinyl ketone, diethyl, tetrahydrophthalate, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, oleic acid, undecylenic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, croton aldehyde, methyl vinyl ether, in the proportions of approximately 2 to 25 moles of sulfur per mole of ethylenically unsaturated compound at a temperature of C. to 135 C. and preferably about C. for a period of about five to thirty hours. Polymeric addition products are formed under these conditions which, upon cooling at room temperature, and where the sulfur rank of the product is of the order of about 10 or more form friable solids having a high proportion of available sulfur when used as an activated filler. connotes (and may be defined as the number of mols of sulfur reacted per'mol of the ethylenically unsaturated compound. The preferred reaction product active fillers are those having a sulfur rank of at least about 10 and the most preferred activated fillers are sulfur and the reaction products of sulfur and styrene or ethyl hexyl acrylate.

In adding the activated filler to the polyvinyl chloride formulations the following procedure may be used: the

polyvinyl chloride is mixed with the plasticizer and banded also be used with copolymers of vinyl chloride and minor amounts of materials such as vinyl acetate.

Fillers, as a rule, are added to polyvinyl chloride compositions to decrease the cost of the formulation. Being comparatively inert, however, they deaden the stock and reduce the elongation and flexibility thereof. The activated fillers of the present invention, however, not only tend to lower the cost of the stock but also maintain or improve the elongation properties thereof; maintain the The sulfur rank tensile strength properties thereof or decrease them to a substantially lesser extent than other fillers known to the artand, where the reaction product activated filler is formed from sulfur and a material such as ethyl hexyl acrylate, substantially improve the resistance to flexing fatigue of the stock treated therewith.

The reaction product activated fillers of the present invention may also be termed plasticized sulfur materials due to the pl'asticizing action of the unsaturated components on the sulfur in these compositions.

The following examples are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended as a limitation upon the scope thereof. In preparing the formulations used in the following examples standard compounding procedures were used.

Example 1.Preparatin of sulfur/ styrene polymer of rank 4 Thirty-two mols (1024 grams) of sulfur and 8 mols (832 grams.) of inhibited styrene were agitated and heated at 120 C. for, 6 /2 hours under a nitrogen atmosphere. The product, after cooling, was a clear, viscous, tacky, nearly odorless, polymer having a sulfur content of about 57% and a molecular weight of about 620. The yields were quantitative.

Example 2.-Preparati0n of sulfur/ styrene polymer of rank 15 Fifteen mols (481 grams) of sulfur and 1 mol (104 grams) of inhibited styrene were agitated and heated in a nitrogen-purged atmosphere, maintained at 125 C. for 6% hours during which time nitrogen was bubbled through the reaction mixture. The resulting composi tion, after cooling, was a dark viscous polymer having a sulfur content of about 82%. The polymer embn'ttles after cooling at room temperature for about 70 hours. The yields were quantitative.

. 4 at 120 C. for 10 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting product, after cooling, was a dark viscous puttylike polymer having a sulfur content of about 53% and a molecular weight of about 480. The yields were quantitat-ive.

Example 5 .-Preparation of sulfar/alpha-methylstyrene polymer of rank 4 Four mols (128 grams) of sulfur and 1 mol (118.2 grams) of alpha-methylstyrene were agitated and slowly heated at 120 C. for 10 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere.-

After cooling, the unfiltered reaction product yielded 187 grams of viscous polymer having as sulfur content of about 64% and a molecular weight of about 250.. Filtering this polymer yielded 58 grams of unreacted sulflir.

Example 6.-Preparation of sulfur/ethylhexyl acrylate of rank 15 Fifteen mols (481 grams) of sulfur and one mol (184 grams) of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate were agitated and heated at 125-135" C. for 6-10 hours. The product, after cooling,;was a yellow crystalline material having a sulfur content of about 73.7%. The yields were quantitative.

Example 7 .Concentration efiect of activated filler on plasticized polyvinyl chloride Parts by weight Example 3.Pre;;1;rp;1eorn0cf2fr:l;lgu2r/dzvmylhenzene Base formulation p y Polyvinyl chloride Two mols (64 grams) of sulfur and 1 mol grams) Dioctyl phthalate 35 of divinylbenzene were agitated and slowly heated at Advastab T 150 1 2 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere. These conditions Activated plasticizer As shown below FORMULATION VARIATIONS Sulfur 5 12. 5 20 25 35 45 Styrene/sulfur (rank 15) (prepared as in Example 2) 5 12.5 20 25 35 45 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES AT 300 F.

l Organo tin stabilizer (Advance Solvents Chemical 00., Division of Carlisle Ghemlcal Works, Inc).

were maintained for '4 hours, after which the temperature was raised at 200 C. for /2 hour, then lowered to 120 C. for the remainderof a total reaction period of 10 hours. No revertion odor was perceptible at the elevated temperature. The resulting composition, after cooling, was a tough plastic-like polymer having a sulfur contentof about 39% and a molecular weight of about 865. The yields were quantitative.

Example 4.Preparation of sulfur/vinyltoluene polymer of rank 4 Four moles 128 grams) of sulfur and 1 mol (118 grams) of vinyltoluene were agitated and slowly heated 75 below.

Example 8.Efiectiveness of sulfur as an activated filler in homopolymeric polyvinyl chloride compositions plus ticized with various plasticizers Example 10.Reaction product activated fillersin plaisticized homopolymeric polyvinyl chloride compositions PARTS BY WEIGHT Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Advastab T 150 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2' 2 2 2 Sulfur 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 Dioetyl phthalate 35 35 'letrabutyl Suciinate 35 35 Dipropylene glycol benz0ate 35 35 Tri(2ethy1 hexyl) phosphate 35 35 Butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate- 35 35 Alkyd aryl phnsnhatp 35 35 Tricresyl phosphate 35 85 Butylcarbitol 1 35 35 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT MINUTES AT 300 F.

Modulus, 100% 2,100 2,320 2,180 2,250 2,550 2,500 1,700 1,900 1,750 2,100 2,120 2, 650 2,800 3,420 1,900 2,350 Tens11e, p.s.1. 2,960 3,160 a, 065 3,430 3,025 2,895 2,495 2,370 2,250 3,330 2,515 3,617 3,175 3, 720 2,830 3,300 Elongation, percent- 310 180 800 210 220 150 270 120 180 200 210 180 250 200 220 200 A Hardness. 94 96 95 96 95 98 96 95 95 96 96 98 98 99 91 92 Tear, p.i 536 450 567 413 685 515 492 372 549 408 617 535 840' 983 450 480 Exomple 9.-Efifect of increased activ z ted filler poncentra- FORMULATION tions in polyvinyl ch lorzde com positions plastzczzed with dioctyl phthalate plasticizer 1 2 3 4 5 To further determine effective concentration ranges of 25 Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 100 the actlvated fillers of the present mvent on, various pro Diocty1phtha1ate 35 35 35 60 35 portions of them, rangmg from 25 to 55 parts by We1ght Advastab T 150 2 2 2 2 2 1 Sulfur". per IOQ parts by weight of v nyl chlondepolymer were Ethyl hexyl acrylatelsulm milled into a polyvinyl chloride composition contammg (rank as prepared in Example 6) 60 parts by weight of dioctyl phthalate. Where styrene/ Styrene/sulfur (rank 15) (as sulfur of rank 15 was used as the activated filler, up to prepared in Example 2) 2 5 and including to 45 parts by weight were effective and Y a 25 parts by weight of sulfur, itself, were etfectlve w1th- PHYSICAL PROPERTIESfPRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES out deletenously affecting the product based on considera- AT 300 g V tions of stress-strain properties and economics. 35

Md 1,100 2,030 Base formulation: Parts by weight fi fi i ''g 2,509 Tensile, p.s.i 2, 750 q v y chloride 100 Emngaflmp 280 DlOCtyl. phthalate A Hardness 95 Advastab T 150 2 Activated filler As shown below 40 FORMULATlON VARIATIONS Syrene/sulfur (rank 15) (as prepared in example 2 25 35 Suliur 25 35 45 55 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES AT 300 F Modulus, 1,160 920 950 850 860 800 750 700 800 Modulus, 200%. 1,800 1,440 1,460 1,280 1,350 1,250 1,075 Modulus, 300%- 1,850 1,720 1,640 Tensile, p.s.i 2,230 2,230. 1,930 1,900 1,760 1,835 1,060 1,170 930 Elongation, perceut 290 0 29 35 23 360 19 210 Tear, .i 321 297 314 280 308 274 278 239 237 Hardn ss, Shore A 80 75 77 74 75 73 72 74 81 Example 1J.Efiect of activated filler of present invention versus a standard filler in 'homopolymeric polyvinyl chloride compositions A comparison was made, in this example, between the eifect obtained on the elongation properties of products made from plasticized polyvinyl chloride compositions comprising, in part, activated fillers of the present invention and a standard filler used in the art, calcium carbonate; Whereas the use of the standard filler resulted in a substantial loss in elongation properties, the use of 75 the activated fillers of the present invention resulted in r r 8 Example 13.Efiect of sulfur and styrene/Sulfur (rank 15) on plasticized vinyl chloride/ vinyl acetate copolymer compositions Example 12.Efiects of filler addition and reduction of dioctylphthalate plasticizer in homopolymeric polyvinyl chloride compositions made with the activated fillers of the present invention had improved elongation properties whereas those made with a standard filler had reduced elongation properties. The formulations used and resulting properties of the products are shown below.

Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 100 100 Dioctyl phthalate- 60 60 60 35 35 35 Stanclere 80 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 Styrene/sulfur (rank (prepared as in Example 2) 25 Sulfur 25 Calcium carbonate 25 25 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES AT 300 F.

Modulus, 100% 1, 080 850 1, 300 l, 950 2, 840 2, 070 Modulus, 300%- 1, 800 3, 095 3, 000 Tensile, p.s.i 2, 100 2, 290 2, 110 3, 125 3, 205 8, 070 Elongation, percent 280 400 220 5 300 205 300 Hardness, shore A- 79 75 84 92 97 95 Tear, p.i 308 274 304 500 538 544 1 Org 5110 tin stabilizer (Gallard-Schlesinger Chemical Mfg. Corp.)

This example illustrates the compatibility of the acti- 1 2 3 4 5 vated fillers of the present invention with copolymers of vinyl chloride and the fact that plasticized polyvinyl chlo- Pol vinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 i 511 h 0 ()1 mar an ub- Bug lcarbitoladipatm 55 35 a5 35 nde iomposmons p W th c p y s c be S Advastab T 150 2 2 2 2 stantially extended with the activated fillers of the present lfif ffi g g 15) (as Prepared 25 invention without, on the average, unduly lowering the m l p 25 10 physical property values of the resulting products. The ?5 25 Y formulations used and physical properties of'the products obtained therewith are shown below.

FORMULATIONS Dioctylphthalate 35 35 35 v 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 Advastab T 150 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Vinyl chloride] poly'mer (97/3) 100 100 100 Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer (91/9) 100 100 100 Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate 00- polymer (/10) 100 100 Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate 00- polymer (so 3)--- 100 100 100 Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate 00- polymer (85/15)- 100 100 100 Sulfur 25 25 25 25 25 Styrene/sulfur (rank 15) (as prepared in Example 2)--. 25 25 25 25 25 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES AT 300 F Modulus, 100% 1,300 1,700 1, 400 1, 350 1,400 1,100 1,900 1,550 1,850 2,700 2,300 2,100 1,700 1,600 1,200 Tensile, p.s.i 1,875 1,770 1, 980 1,590 1,535 2,915 2,470 2, 545 3,350 2,070 3,112 2,185 1,715 1,575 Elongation, percent 160 180 175 170 200 210 170 200 220 170 120 Hardness, Shore A- 95 92 94 94 90 95 95 90 96 95 95 07 97 95 Tear, p.i 383 292 334 339 178 340 322 263 423 600 535 398 407 269 PROPERTIES-PRESSED OUT 10 MINUTES, 300 F. Example 14 od1us,100% 2,338 3 This example illustrates the use of sulfur, styrene/sulfgj g ggg & 2,, 90 fur (rank 15) and ethyl hexyl acrylate/sulfur (rank 15) flardnessshvre 3 2 2a 95 40 in a commercial, plasticized,.hornopolymeric polyvinyl Tear 0 3 386 chloride cable 60 C. formulation to produce a more economical product while maintaining or enhancing the physical properties thereof. The formulations used and 5 the properties of the products obtained are as follows:

FORMULATIONS Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 Burgess pigment #20 1 20 20 20 10 Calcium carbonate 30 30 30 20 Lead silicate sulfate (stabilizer)- 5 5 5 5 Dioctyl phthalate 62 37 37 37 Stearie acid (lubricant) 0. 26 0. 26 0. 26 0. 26 Sulfur 20 Styrene/sulfur (rank 15) (as prepared in Example 25 Ethyl hexyl acrylate/sulfur (rank 15) (as prepared in Example 6)-- 25 25 PHYSICAL PROPE RTIES-EISOEEFSSED OUT 10 MINUTES AT Modulus, 100% 1, 500 2, 190 1, 950 1, 600 Modulus, 200%- 2, 000 2, 500 2, 350 2, 020

ensile 2, 2, 6 2, 600 2, 340

Cream white pigment (composition of titanium dioxide, alumina & s1lica)Burgess Pigment Company.

Example 15 The example illustrates the use of sulfur, styrene/sulfur (rank 15) and ethyl hexyl acrylate/sulfur (rank 15 in polyvinyl chloride commercial cable 90 C. formulations to produce more economical products while maintaining or enhancing the physical properties thereof.

F RMULATIONS Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 100 100 Burgess pigment #20 15 15 15 10 Dibasic lead phthalate (stabilized) 7 7 V 7 7 7 7 Calcium carbonate- 13 13 13 8 13 8 Ditridecyl phthalate 50 30 i 30 30 30 30 Stearie acid (lubricant) 0.26 0. 26 0. 26 0. 26 0 26 0. 26 Sulfur 10 1o Styrene/sulfur. (rank 15) (as prepared in Example 2) 20 20 Ethyl hexyl acrylate/sulfur (rank 15) (as prepared in Example 6).--. 20 20 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES-gamut) OUT 10 MINUTES AT Modulus, 100% 2, 000 2, 780 2, 950 2, 600 2, 600 2, 450 Modulus, 200%"- 2, 340 3, 085 2, 890 2, 740 Tensile 2, 335 2, 895 3, 100 .2, 740 2, 980 2, 895 Elongation, percent 200 180 200 190 220 270 V-te 425 690 710 535 640 600 96 98 99 97 98 98 Duro D 54 68 66 62 63 60 Example 16 The following example illustrates the efifect on the flexing properties of plasticized polyvinyl chloride in which there is admixed the activated fillers of the present invention. A comparison was made in the flexing properties of products made with both the activated fillers of the present invention and a standard filler, calcium carbonate.

The test specimens were pressed out in 15 minutes at 300 F. The data obtained in these tests using a Ross Flexometer indicates that the use of the activated fillers of the present invention substantially increases the flexing properties of the products made therewith.

The formulations used and the results obtained are as follows.

Cut growth is measured in tenths of an inch. The flex strips are punched in the center at the flex point. This puncture measures 0.1 inch. When the crack increases to 0.2 inch, this is called 100% out growth. At 900%, the strip is cracked its full width. At 1000%, the crack has obtained some depth. The test strips are removed from the test device at this point.

Any strip that has less than 500% out growth at 50,000 flexes is considered good in a shoe sole stock.

FORMULATIONS Polyvinyl chloride 100 100 100 100 100 Dioctyl phthalate 35 35 35 35 35 Advastab T 150 2 2 2 2 2 Styrene/sulfur (rank 15) (prepared as in Example 2)- Sulfur 25 Witcarb RC (C3003) 25 Ethyl hexyl acrylate/suliur (rank 15) (prepared as in Example 6) 25 FLEX RESISTANCE (ROSS FLEXOMETER) Percent out growth N 0. of Flexes:

Results similar to those shown in Examples 1 0 to 16 can also be obtained with the other activated fillers described above and/or prepared in several of the other examples, but not specifically evaluated in the examples disclosed herein.

We claim:

1. A vinyl chloride resin composition comprising a vinyl'chloride polymer and at least one activated filler which is the polymeric reaction product of sulfur and an ethylenically unsaturated organic compound said fillor being present in said composition to the extent of from approximately 5 parts by weight up to approximately 55' by weight per 100 parts by weight of said vinylchloride polymer.

2. A composition as in claim 1 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is selected from the group consisting of 'butadiene, ethyl hexyl acrylate, styrene, vinyl'toluene, divinyl benzene, u-methyl styrene, isobutylene, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, methylmethacrylate, ethylene, propylene, butene-l, butene-Z, isopentene, diisobutylene, triisobutylene, hexene-l, heptene-3, octene-l, dodenene-S, cetene-l, hexyl-2-decene-1, heptadecene-7, pentatriaconteneel7, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, pinene, carnphene, alloocimene, myrcene, squalene, dihydronaphthalene, indene, acenaphthalene, allene, isoprene, chloroprene, cyclopentadiene, vinyl cyclopentadiene, cy-

: clohexadiene, vinyl cyclohexene, divinyl acetylene, trivinyl benzene, hexatriene, diallyl dimethallyl, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7-0ctadiene, 1,8-nonadiene, 1,4-heptadiene, triolefin monovinyl acetylene, ethyl acrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, methyl vinyl ketone, -diethyl tetrahydrophthalate, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, oleic acid, undecylenic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, croton aldehyde and methyl vinyl ether.

3. A composition as in claim 2 in which said vinyl chloride polymer is a homopolymer.

4; A composition as in claim 2 in which said vinyl chloride polymer is a copolymer.

5. A composition as in claim 4 in which said copolymer is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

6. A composition as in claim 2 in which said polymeric reaction product is a solid material at room temperature.

7. A composition as in claim 6 in which said polymeric reaction product has a sulfur rank of at least 10.

8. A composition as in claim 6 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is styrene.

9. A composition as in claim 6 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is ethyl hexyl acrylate.

10. A plasticized vinyl chloride resin composition comprising a vinyl chloride polymer and at least one activated filler which is a solid polymeric reaction product of sulfur and an ethylenically unsaturated organic compound, said filler being present in said composition to the extent of from approximately 5 parts by weight up to approximately 45 parts by weight per parts by weight of said vinyl chloride polymer.

11. A composition as in claim 10 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is styrene.

12. A composition as in claim 10 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is ethyl hex'yl acrylate.

13. A plasticized vinyl chloride composition comprising a vinyl chloride polymer, sulfur and at least one activated filler which is a solid reaction product of sulfur and an ethylenically unsaturated organic compound said sulfur and said activated filler, being present in said composition in amounts of from approximately 5 parts by weight up to approximately 45 parts by Weight 55 100 parts by weight of said vinyl chloride polymer.

14. A composition as in claim 13 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is selected from the group consisting of butadiene, ethyl hexyl acrylate, styrene, vinyl toluene, divinyl benzene, a-methyl styrene,

isobutylene, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, ethylene, propylene, 'butene-l, 'butene-2, isopentene, diisobutylene, triisobutylene, hexene-l, heptene-3, octane-1, dodenene-S, cetene-l,hexyl-Z-decene-l, heptadecene-7, pentatriacontene-17, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, pinene, camphene, alloocimene, myrcene, squalene, dihydronaphthalene, indene, acenaphthalene, allene, isoprene, chloroprene, cyclopentadiene, vinyl cyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, vinyl cyclohexene, divinyl acetylene, trivinyl benzene, hexatriene, diallyl dimethallyl, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,8-nonadiene, 1,4-heptadiene, triolefin monovinyl acetylene, ethyl acrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, methyl vinyl ketone, diethyl tetrahydrophthalate, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, oletic acid, undecylenic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, croton aldehyde and methyl vinyl ether.

15. A composition as in claim 14 in which said ethylenically unsaturated organic compound is styrene.

ylenically unsaturated organic compound is ethyl hexyl acrylate.

References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,175,049 10/ 1939 Alexander 26079.5 2,222,928 11/ 1940 Alexander 260--30.8 2,227,311 12/1940 Kipper 260-79 2,447,004 8/1948 Gamson 260-79 2,720,509 10/ 1955 Cushing 260-79 2,738,344- 3/ 1956 Rogers et a1. 260139 ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Primary Examiner.

LESLIE H. GASTON, -MORR'IS LIEBMAN, Examiners.

A. O. DENT, L. T. JACOBS, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A VINYL CHLORIDE RESIN COMPOSITION COMPRISING A VINYL CHLORIDE POLYMER AND AT LEAST ONE ACTIVATED FILLER WHICH IS THE POLYMERIC REACTION PRODUCT OF SULFUR AND AN ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED ORGANIC COMPOUND SAID FILLER BEING PRESENT IN SAID COMPOSITION TO THE EXTENT OF FROM APPROXIMATELY 5 PARTS BY WEIGHT UP TO APPROXIMATELY 55 PARTS BY WEIGHT PER 100 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF SAID VINYL CHLORIDE POLYMER. 